About $12.5 billion of investment grade debt (including split rated BBB/BBs) came to market in the week ended October 11. Once again, the deals were split: Higher quality credits (including banks, the Province of Ontario and Wal-Mart) took advantage of the steep yield curve to issue at low all-in yields at the front end of the curve. Aa2/AA Wal-Mart, for example, issued 2Y debt with a 3 _% coupon. Down the credit spectrum, issuers were happy to extend out to 10+ years to take advantage of low spreads. Almost $7 billion in BBB and split-rated paper came to market, once again heavily weighted toward the utility and energy sectors.
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